In the fiercely competitive group of the Asia Cup known as the “group of death,” Bangladesh is now confronted with a crucial game against Afghanistan that they must win.
Sri Lanka 165 for 5 beat Bangladesh
| Name | Runs |
|---|---|
| Asalanka | 62* |
| Samarawickrama | 54 |
| Shakib | 2-29 |
Bangladesh 164 by five wickets
| Name | Runs |
|---|---|
| Shanto | 89 |
| Pathirana | 4-32 |
| Theekshana | 2-19 |
A vital opening victory for Sri Lanka is led by Pathirana and Asalanka
Najmul Hossain Shanto displayed a courageous performance by scoring 89 runs. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightly controlled the rest of the Bangladesh lineup, dismissing them for 164 runs in the Pallekele match.
Matheesha Pathirana concluded with his career-best bowling figures of 4 for 32. Simultaneously, the consistently impressive Maheesh Theekshana secured a couple of wickets. Nevertheless, the Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage duo laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s strike bowlers to excel.
With their combination of right-arm and left-arm spin, they dominated the middle overs, restricting the batters from scoring freely. This strategic approach was pivotal in enabling skipper Dasun Shanaka to delay reintroducing Theekshana and Pathirana to the bowling attack.
Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka Positoion
Batting at the No. 4 position, Samarawickrama was responsible for maintaining a steady scoring rate. He demonstrated his intentions with consecutive boundaries against Taskin, showcasing an exquisite cover drive. However, the fall of wickets compelled him to shift into a role focused on accumulating runs.
Upon Asalanka’s arrival, the duo began by pushing for singles and negotiating dot balls, as there was no immediate pressure from the scoreboard. If any pressure started accumulating, Samarawickrama alleviated it by dispatching a couple of fours off Shakib during the 19th over.
The partnership between the two yielded a resilient 78 runs before Mahedi Hasan stumped Samarawickrama. However, by this juncture, the chase was firmly under control. A little later, Dhananjaya de Silva’s stumps were rattled by Shakib, inducing a hint of anxiety among the Sri Lankan camp. Nonetheless, Dasun Shanaka joined forces with Asalanka at the crease, successfully guiding the team to victory.
Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka Highlights
The result left Bangladesh contemplating missed opportunities, especially given their inability to utilize the full 50 overs in their batting innings. Except for Najmul Hossain Shanto’s courageous 89, the rest of the Bangladesh lineup struggled against Sri Lanka’s bowlers. The bowlers effectively maintained a stranglehold over the opposition, bundling them out for a modest 164.
In his Asia Cup debut, Matheesha Pathirana shone with his career-best figures of 4 for 32, while the consistently impressive Maheesh Theekshana secured a couple of wickets. Yet, the partnership between Dhananjaya and Dunith Wellalage set the stage for Sri Lanka’s primary bowlers to excel.
Their combination of right-arm and left-arm spin wreaked havoc during the middle overs, effectively suppressing the batters’ scoring opportunities. This approach notably allowed skipper Shanaka to withhold the reintroduction of both Theekshana and Pathirana.
This strategic decision proved pivotal, particularly in light of the absence of the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. On a challenging pitch, Sri Lanka’s bowlers adhered to disciplined lines and lengths, denying the Bangladesh batters any sustained dominance. Consequently, the opposition struggled to establish control over the match for significant stretches.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Shanto compiled a partnership of 32 runs for the fifth wicket. However, Mushfiqur’s dismissal followed a classic tactic: a sequence of full-length deliveries preceding a short-pitched one resulting in him holing out to deep third.
Following Mushfiqur’s departure, not a Bangladeshi batsman could sustain a substantial partnership with Shanto. The combination of Pathirana and Theekshana wreaked havoc on the lower order. Besides Shanto, only Hridoy scored 20, while two additional batters achieved double-digit scores.
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